Leica announces new steel-rim Summilux 35mm f1.4 lens

[Erik van Straten]

gelatin silver print (summilux 35mm f1.4 "steel rim" v2) leica m2

https://www.flickr.com/photos/erik_van_straten/48009383893/sizes/l/

Erik.

 

[Freakscene]

I agree with your view that the new steel rim is unlikely to produce identical image as the original version (hence I am intrigued to see sample images from the new lens.)

Whether we like it, or acknowledge it, or not, there is no fair comparison. Even a 'pristine' original steel rim Summilux is at least 56 years old. Coatings oxidise, and even optical glass flows. There is no brand new, straight from manufacture comparison. Even if you have negatives that you shot with a brand new steel rim back in the day, we can no longer get those films. So we can't compare old and new. When the differences in characteristics of the old lens get emphasized vs the characteristics of the new lens in reviews, remember that you cannot compare like with like. Lead containing flint glass is not magic, in fact it is just optical glass with lead in it that was the best material available at the time (but is not any longer). While I agree that old lenses produce beautiful images (I love my rigid 50mm Summicron) I can't help but think that all the effort put into comparisons would be better put into taking pictures.

I plan to sell my original steel rim and get the new one, just to have a newer lens.

Marty

 

[yossi]

Is newer always better? (define 'better' first) and that depends on who you ask.

If newer means better, then the newest 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE II must be the best. (For those who are pre-ordering the new steel rim, they probably don't think so.)

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Whether we like it, or acknowledge it, or not, there is no fair comparison. Even a 'pristine' original steel rim Summilux is at least 56 years old. Coatings oxidise, and even optical glass flows. There is no brand new, straight from manufacture comparison. Even if you have negatives that you shot with a brand new steel rim back in the day, we can no longer get those films. So we can't compare old and new. When the differences in characteristics of the old lens get emphasized vs the characteristics of the new lens in reviews, remember that you cannot compare like with like. Lead containing flint glass is not magic, in fact it is just optical glass with lead in it that was the best material available at the time (but is not any longer). While I agree that old lenses produce beautiful images (I love my rigid 50mm Summicron) I can't help but think that all the effort put into comparisons would be better put into taking pictures.

I plan to sell my original steel rim and get the new one, just to have a newer lens.

Marty

Makes sense to me.... & puts $$ back in your pocket

 

[ZivcoPhoto]

I love my 35mm ASPH pre-FLE Summilux which I bought new in 2006. I have used it extensively on film and digital. It is a silver one - I have never had errors in focus with whatever kind of camera its been on. I have used all sorts of Voigtlander lenses as well as Nikon rangefinder lens 35mm. The 35 ASPH beats them all, color, micro- contrast, out-of-focus. Of course I use it as much as I can at 1.4. I struggled with my 50mm pre-ASPH Summilux. I can’t image what a 35mm pre ASPH lens developed with the same look in mind would be like - although I admit Eric’s photos as usual, are marvelous.

 

[Freakscene]

Is newer always better? (define 'better' first) and that depends on who you ask.

If newer means better, then the newest 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE II must be the best. (For those who are pre-ordering the new steel rim, they probably don't think so.)

Nowhere did I say better. I said that the comparisons weren’t very valid, and that I was getting a newer lens. I am intending to replace my 1961 steel rim with a 2022 steel rim. I have ordered it. I already have the 35 Summilux FLE.

I said newer, not better. Having had the helicoids in three of my older Leica lenses replaced in the last few years ($$$) I see the reissue as decent insurance against wear, and my original steel rim is black, and suddenly very valuable.

Marty

 

[yossi]

Nowhere did I say better. I said that the comparisons weren’t very valid, and that I was getting a newer lens. I am intending to replace my 1961 steel rim with a 2022 steel rim. I have ordered it. I already have the 35 Summilux FLE.

I said newer, not better. Having had the helicoids in three of my older Leica lenses replaced in the last few years ($$$) I see the reissue as decent insurance against wear, and my original steel rim is black, and suddenly very valuable.

Marty

No, I was just asking this question in a general sense. Did not mean to "mis-quote" you. Apology if it is construed that way.

"better" is a subjective word. To some, the original summilux is more compact and has no distortion cf. the ASPH versions (or the Nokton copy) and that already make it a better lens. To others, the dreamy/flare wide-open "feature" is better than the sharp rendering of the new lens. At the end of the day, buy/use what YOU like.

 

[Erik van Straten]

gelatin silver print (summilux 35mm f1.4 steel rim v2) leica m5

https://www.flickr.com/photos/erik_v...77283/sizes/l/ (better sharpness on flickr)

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

No, I was just asking this question in a general sense. Did not mean to "mis-quote" you. Apology if it is construed that way.

"better" is a subjective word. To some, the original summilux is more compact and has no distortion cf. the ASPH versions (or the Nokton copy) and that already make it a better lens. To others, the dreamy/flare wide-open "feature" is better than the sharp rendering of the new lens. At the end of the day, buy/use what YOU like.

I agree here with Yossi. Having two original steel-rims I sold some time a go my two eight elements (plain and with goggles) for a small fortune because I never used them and because I was presented by LLL a black paint LLL 35mm f2 for free.

At full aperture the steel rims are something very special - beautiful bokeh - and stopped down they beat anything because they are absolutely free from any distortion. They are small too, compared to aspherical 35mm's.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

gelatin silver print (summilux 35mm steel rim 35mm f1.4) leica m5

https://www.flickr.com/photos/erik_v...56973/sizes/l/ (better sharpness on flickr)

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

This is what I've read on the site of the Leica store in Amsterdam:

"Its relaunched edition is made in the Leica manufacture in Wetzlar – in the original vintage design and with the identical optical calculation of the first Summilux-M 35 f/1.4. Furthermore, the stainless steel front ring known as “Steel Rim”, the lockable focus ring and the black attachable lens hood are also modelled on the original."

I read: "in the original vintage design and with the identical optical calculation of the first Summilux-M 35 f/1.4", so it will not be in the calculation of the first steel rim lens! The name of the first steel rim lens is: Summilux 35mm f/1.4, not Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4.

I noticed that the year of birth of the first Summilux 35mm f/1.4 is not mentioned: 1959.

I found the price of the new lens remarkably low when I heard it. Now I know why.

Erik.